Barbara Comstock just introduced a bill that gives WMATA more money, but also weakens local control of Metro. Our contributors had a variety of reactions to her proposal; what do you think? Keep reading…

The bill, just released, would wipe out the current WMATA board and replace it with a temporary "reform board" similar to the control board that supervised the DC budget from 1995 to 2001, among other big changes. Keep reading…

Regional officials sound like they're giving up on comprehensive reform of Metro in 2018 and punting it to at least 2019, but any delay means more danger things never get fixed. Now a coalition of advocacy, business, and other local organizations are demanding that elected leaders reform Metro's funding and governance. Keep reading…

Metro wants an 85% customer satisfaction rate for rail and bus, and it’s currently not hitting that. But there are some signs that railcars are becoming more reliable, which could help curb the system’s loss of riders. This comes from Metro’s released latest quarterly vital signs report, which is essentially a report card on how the agency is performing. Keep reading…

If officials in the Washington region have any hope of fixing Metro, they must find dedicated funding for it, and soon, according to a new report presented today to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments — $650 million a year worth. Keep reading…

Last week, a suggestion to charge riders a flat fare no matter where in the Metro system they travel surfaced, we ran a post saying that's not a good idea. One alternative that came up was using a zone system, which would charge based on how many times a passenger traveled into a new region in the system. But Metro shouldn't do that, either. Keep reading…

Jack Evans, DC Councilmember and chair of the WMATA Board, is making noise. He’s shouting that Metro needs $25 billion to fix everything that needs fixing. On Friday, members of Congress accused him of “political theater” and “rampant parochialism.” But perhaps some theater is just what Metro needs right now? Keep reading…

On Wednesday, the Washington Post editorial board sparked a regional discussion by calling for the consideration of a heretofore radical idea: that Congress should consider imposing a financial control board on WMATA. That suggestion was amplified by WMATA Board Chair Jack Evans, who signaled his support for the idea.
In a round-up of what Greater Greater Washington contributors… Keep reading…

The latest WMATA budget proposal would raise fares on Metro rail, bus, and parking, while also cutting service. It’s a crushing plan for everyone. In proposing to raise bus fares, the agency claims they are lower than in other cities, but for many riders who ride both the bus and rail, our bus fares are actually among the highest. Keep reading…

On Tuesday night, The Washington Post put out an op-ed saying that the federal government should take over Metro. There are good reasons to consider this proposal, but also reasons to think it could be harmful.
Keep reading…

On Sunday, WMATA released a preview of its budget proposal for next year. The “Reality Check Budget Plan,” as general manager Paul Wiedefeld is calling it, includes less frequent service, higher fares, and employee lay-offs. Keep reading…